Hybrid variety of Texas×Kentucky bluegrass designated ‘HB 130’

ABSTRACT

A hybrid variety of Texas bluegrass×Kentucky bluegrass as described, characterized by rapid establishment; a light green, dense turf; a wide leaf blade; aggressive rhizome growth; a reduced level of cotton on the seed; and a medium to high seed yield potential.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid variety of Poa arachnifera Torr.×Poa pratensis L. that has been designated as ‘HB 130’ bluegrass.

Description of Related Art

A Poa arachnifera×Poa pratensis hybrid designated ‘Reveille’ has been disclosed in PVP Certificate No. 9800337. Another Poa arachnifera Torr.×Poa pratensis L. hybrid designated as ‘HB 129’ has been disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/197,945, filed Aug. 5, 2005, claiming the benefit of provisional application No. 60/599,539, filed Aug. 6, 2004. ‘HB 129’ is commercially available as ‘Thermal Blue’ and this commercial designation is used elsewhere herein. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/208,473, filed Aug. 19, 2005 described another Poa arachnifera Torr.×Poa pratensis L. hybrid designated as ‘HB 329’ as the progeny formed by crossing an interspecific hybrid bluegrass (Texas Bluegrass×Kentucky Bluegrass) designated ‘HB 47’ (a female plant 7-23 ×cv. ‘Geronimo’ male plant) as the female parent crossed with cv. ‘Ascot’ Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) as the pollen parent. ‘HB 329’ is commercially available as ‘Dura Blue’ and this commercial designation is used elsewhere herein.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

‘HB 130’ bluegrass is the result of a plant selected from the progeny of Texas bluegrass (Poa arachnifera Torr.) female plant 6-8 (seed parent), with cv. ‘Geronimo’ Kentucky bluegrass (pollen parent)(Poa pratensis L.) cross for perfect flowers, apomixis and turfgrass performance characteristics in the F₁ generation.

Texas bluegrass female plant 6-8 is an unpatented, unreleased plant selected and maintained for its tiller density, turf quality and the lack of male reproductive organs. The cv. ‘Geronimo’ is an unpatented, released Kentucky bluegrass of European origin from Mommersteeg International, Vlijmen, the Netherlands.

As a result of this breeding, a distinct variety was produced and asexually propagated by rhizomes, tillers and disseminules. The highly apomictic seed of ‘HB 130’ bluegrass was produced first at Corvallis, Oreg. This seed was used to plant turf performance evaluation trials and later, seed production fields.

The seed of ‘HB 130’ has been found to be stable. Asexual production of ‘HB 130’ initially was performed at Corvallis, Oreg. by propagules (tillers and rhizomes) and by disseminules (modified caryopses produced by apomixis), and has consistently produced progeny plants indistinguishable from the first generation asexual reproductions of the instant plant. The apomixis level of ‘HB130’ is approximately 86%. The apomixis level was determined by examining Greenhouse grow-outs of ‘HB 130’ rating for apomictic origin from disseminules harvested from three growing seasons from field grown ‘HB 130’ plants in Gervais, Oreg.

The ‘HB 130’ grass described herein is a high-quality, aggressive bluegrass hybrid with a number of highly desirable characteristics, including aggressive establishment, excellent recoverability, heat tolerance better in tall fescue regions of the U.S., shade tolerance, a finer texture than tall fescue, resistance to brown patch and Pythium. ‘HB 130’ resists disease in humid regions better than traditional Kentucky bluegrasses, and is acclimated to colder northern climates as well as high heat areas.

‘HB 130’ thrives under traditional Kentucky bluegrass maintenance programs in the cool season zone. ‘HB 130’ has an upright leafy turf type, and a medium green color that can be maintained throughout the entire growing season. ‘HB 130’ demonstrates good fall color and good winter color under mild winter conditions.

Texas bluegrass is a vigorous sod-forming perennial native in the Southeastern and Southern Plains States. Plants grow up to 3 feet on strong soil, with numerous leaves 6 to 12 inches long and 0.025 inch wide. The grass grows throughout the winter producing abundant, nutritious pasture which is highly palatable. This is a valuable species where native, but seeding is difficult. The species is dioecious, with male and female plants. It produces only limited quantities of seed which is covered with woolly hairs that are difficult to remove. Consequently, establishment of stands for agricultural use is limited. Reveille variety Kentucky bluegrass exhibits problems similar to those encountered with Texas bluegrass; these problems are overcome employing the present ‘HB 130’ hybrid.

‘HB 130’ has reduced cotton (webbing) on the lemma relative to ‘HB 129’, ‘Reveille’, and parental Texas bluegrasses. ‘HB 130’ has a medium to high seed yield potential in the Kentucky bluegrass seed production region of the northwestern United States and has shown the potential for economic seed production.

In comparison with Texas bluegrasses, ‘Reveille’ hybrid bluegrass and ‘Ascot’ and Coventry varieties of Kentucky bluegrass, ‘HB 130’ has demonstrated relatively rapid germination and emergence in both fall and spring sowings. ‘HB 130’ has shown greatly reduced seed cotton as compared with ‘Reveille’. It is believed that the presence of the cotton on the ‘Reveille’ seed results in poor seed recovery of the hybrid and causes ‘Reveille’ to be available predominantly as a vegetatively reproduced product from rhizome and tiller materials.

In comparison with a number of Kentucky bluegrass varieties ‘HB 130’ has an above-average seed size with a lower number of seeds per pound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an ‘HB 130’ panicle;

FIG. 2 is an ‘HB 130’ seed; and

FIG. 3 is an ‘HB 130’ plant shortly after completing anthesis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

‘HB 130’ Texas bluegrass×Kentucky bluegrass (Poa arachnifera L.×Poa pratensis L.) hybrid is perennial with creeping rhizomes forming a dense turf. When plants overwinter in the field and grow undisturbed by clipping, culms are semi-erect averaging 63.0 cm. The vegetative leaf averages 9.0 cm in length. The flag leaf averages 6.5 cm in length. 3.55 mm in width, and has a sheath length of 15.4 cm. The flag leaf averages more hairs on the ligule than ‘HB 329’, ‘Reveille’, and Texas bluegrass varieties but fewer than ‘HB 129’, ‘Ascot’, or ‘Geronimo’ variety Kentucky bluegrasses.

‘HB 130’ is an aggressive and durable bluegrass, making it suitable for athletic fields. ‘HB 130’ spread the most of tested varieties. Only Thermal Blue and Geronimo varieties showed similar plant area spread, whereas all other cultivars spread much less in a growing season.

TABLE 1 Plant Spread Area. Comparison of plant spread reported in square centimeters at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon Plant spread Cultivar Area (cm²) ‘HB 130’ 2375.85 ‘Thermal Blue’ 2279.07 ‘Geronimo’ 2177.94 ‘Buckingham’ 1330.18 ‘Reveille’ 1209.80 ‘Dura Blue’ 1096.47 ‘Kelly’ 982.25 ‘Ascot’ 949.65 ‘Midnight’ 912.37 ‘Tx 51-90’ 672.42 ‘Tx 39-88’ 384.52 ‘Tx 49-90’ 336.63 ‘HB96’ 295.28 lsd (p = 0.05) 653.17

TABLE 2 Tiller characteristics of ‘HB 130’ and various Kentucky and Texas bluegrass cultivars at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon. Measurements in centimeters and nodes per tiller. Cultivar Culm length Nodes on tiller Top internode length ‘HB 130’ 58.5 3.9 13.1 ‘Thermal Blue’ 59.2 4.7 13.5 ‘Dura Blue’ 52.6 4.2 17.8 ‘Geronimo’ 59.3 4.1 15.5 ‘Ascot’ 47.0 4.8 10.8 ‘Tx 39-88’ 70.0 3.8 9.5 ‘Tx 49-90’ 61.7 3.4 9.8 lsd (0.05) 7.63 0.86 3.15

TABLE 3 Tiller characteristics of ‘HB 130’ and various Kentucky and Texas bluegrass cultivars at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon. Measurements in centimeters and nodes per tiller. Cultivar Culm length Nodes on tiller Top internode length ‘HB 130’ 63.0 4.4 11.5 ‘Thermal Blue’ 64.8 4.5 11.3 ‘Dura Blue’ 52.3 3.2 17.0 ‘Geronimo’ 67.6 4.7 12.5 ‘Ascot’ 52.4 4.1 9.7 ‘Tx 39-88’ 59.6 2.2 9.9 ‘Tx 49-90’ 66.5 2.4 9.7 lsd (p = 0.05) 7.77 1.1 3.39

TABLE 4 Comparison of morphological traits of flowering tiller of plants allowed to over winter in the field and placed into a controlled greenhouse environment (60-75 F.) in late winter and allowed to grow undisturbed during a winter season at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon. Flag Leaf Nodes Culm Peduncle Peduncle Subtending on Length Length Width Internode Culm Cultivar (cm) (cm) (cm) Length (cm) (#) ‘HB 130’ 72.1 32.9 0.99 16.1 2.9 ‘Thermal Blue’ 63.6 28.1 0.80 17.8 3.7 ‘Dura Blue’ 54.0 19.3 0.71 22.9 3.0 ‘Reveille’ 72.1 34.9 0.99 16.1 2.9 ‘Geronimo’ 69.8 31.3 0.87 19.3 3.5 ‘Ascot’ 62.2 28.9 0.87 17.8 3.2 ‘Kelly’ 65.0 31.8 0.96 18.2 3.5 ‘Tx 51-90’ 64.7 35.7 1.02 14.5 2.3 ‘Tx 39-88’ 68.3 43.8 1.20 14.9 2.3 ‘TX 49-90’ 68.3 35.4 1.05 19.1 2.5 lsd (p = 0.05) 10.20 7.13 0.160 4.58 0.63

When grown in nurseries over one or two seasons, ‘HB 130’ has shown uniformly open panicles, with drooping panicle branches. The panicle averaged 10.7 cm in length and 10.8 cm in width, exceeding the panicle dimensions of ‘HB 129’ and ‘HB 329’ both in nurseries and when grown in controlled greenhouse environments, as set forth below. ‘HB 130’ panicles showed little to no variation from year to year in panicle shape and branch attitude, while variation was observed in the comparator cultivars.

TABLE 5 Comparison panicle type of ‘HR 130’ with various Kentucky and Texas bluegrass cultivars planted at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon. (Rating Scale: 1 = open panicle, 2 = intermediate panicle, 3 = compact panicle). Cultivar Year 1 ‘HB-130’ 1.0 ‘Thermal Blue’ 1.0 ‘Dura Blue’ 1.0 ‘Abbey’ 1.0 ‘Ascot’ 1.0 ‘Geronimo’ 1.0 ‘TX 19-88’ 1.0 ‘TX 46-90’ 1.7 ‘TX 4-88’ 2.0 lsd (p = 0.05) 0.36

TABLE 6 Panicle branch attitude for ‘HB 130’ and various Kentucky and Texas bluegrass cultivars planted at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon for 1 and 2 years. (Rating Scale: 1 = Drooping, 2 = Horizontal, 3 = Ascending) Cultivar Year 1 Year 2 ‘HB-130’ 1.0 1.0 ‘Thermal Blue’ 1.1 1.0 ‘Dura Blue’ 1.1 1.5 ‘Abbey’ 1.1 1.0 ‘Ascot’ 1.5 1.0 ‘Geronimo’ 1.2 1.3 ‘TX 19-88’ 3.0 3.0 ‘TX 46-90’ 2.5 2.9 ‘TX 4-88’ 1.5 2.8 lsd (p = 0.05) 0.35 0.54

TABLE 7 Panicle shape variation for ‘HB 130’ and various Kentucky and Texas bluegrass cultivars planted at Gervais, Oregon, in percent. Cultivar Open Intermediate Compact ‘HB 130’ 100.0 0 0 ‘Thermal Blue’ 96.8 3.2 0 ‘Dura Blue’ 92.6 7.4 0 ‘Geronimo’ 100.0 0 0 ‘Ascot’ 98.3 1.7 0 ‘Tx 39-88’ 0 15.4 84.7 ‘Tx 49-90’ 0 25.7 74.3 lsd (p = 0.05) 12.8 15.4 10.2

TABLE 8 Panicle characteristics of plants allowed to over winter (vernalize) in the field and placed into a controlled greenhouse environment (60-75 F.) in late winter and allowed to grow undisturbed during a winter season at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon Panicle Panicle Branches in Branches in Panicle Panicle 1^(st) whorl 3^(rd) whorl Length Width Cultivar (count) (count) (cm) (cm) ‘HB 130’ 3.7 2.9 9.2 7.6 ‘Thermal Blue’ 4.0 2.7 7.3 6.7 ‘Dura Blue’ 3.2 2.5 8.0 6.8 ‘Reveille’ 5.0 4.2 9.7 5.9 ‘Geronimo’ 3.5 2.8 8.6 7.3 ‘Ascot’ 2.3 2.1 8.2 7.2 ‘Tx 51-90’ 4.5 3.6 9.2 4.0 ‘Tx 39-88’ 3.8 3.3 9.2 4.1 lsd (p = 0.05) 0.72 0.39 0.76 0.93

TABLE 9 Branches in first and third whorl for ‘HB 130’ and various Kentucky and Texas bluegrass cultivars in nurseries planted at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon. Branches in Branches in Branches in Branches in 1^(st) whorl 1^(st) whorl 3^(rd) whorl 3^(rd) whorl (count) (count) (count) (count) Cultivar 2004 2005 2004 2005 ‘HB 130’ 3.9 4.3 3.2 3.3 ‘Thermal Blue’ 4.0 4.0 3.3 3.2 ‘Dura Blue’ 4.4 3.8 3.8 3.1 ‘Geronimo’ 4.0 4.4 3.5 3.1 ‘Ascot’ 2.8 3.8 2.4 2.2 ‘Tx 19-88’ 5.3 — — — ‘Tx 49-90’ 4.9 — 5.0 — ‘Tx 39-88’ — 2.5 — 2.8 ‘Tx 46-90’ — 3.8 — 3.2 lsd (0.05) 0.82 0.93 0.78 1.08

TABLE 10 Panicle dimensions for ‘HB 130’ and various Kentucky and Texas bluegrass cultivars in nurseries planted at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon Cultivar Length (cm) Length (cm) Width (cm) Width (cm) ‘HB 130’ 9.3 10.7 8.5 10.8 ‘Thermal Blue’ 9.1 10.5 8.4 10.3 ‘Dura Blue’ 8.6 9.7 6.9 8.5 ‘Geronimo’ 8.9 11.1 8.1 11.4 ‘Ascot’ 7.6 9.3 7.0 8.9 ‘Kelly’ — 9.8 — 9.4 ‘Tx 19-88’ 12.9 — 9.8 — ‘Tx 49-90’ 13.5 — 9.5 — ‘Tx 39-88’ — 11.5 — 9.1 ‘Tx 46-90’ — 9.6 — 7.4 lsd (p = 0.05) 2.65 2.51 1.24 1.91

TABLE 11 ‘HB 130’ Comparison of morphological traits of plant inflorescence - spikelets, florets, glumes - from panicles harvested from a field nursery and plant height at The Scotts Company facility at Gervais, Oregon. (Measurement in millimeters). Spikelet Spikelet Spikelet Spikelet Length Length Width Width Variety 1^(st) Whorl 3^(rd) Whorl 1^(st) Whorl 3^(rd) Whorl ‘HB 130’ 6.4 6.7 4.2 3.6 ‘Thermal Blue’ 7.6 7.1 4.5 4.0 ‘Dura Blue’ 6.2 6.5 4.3 3.8 ‘Reveille’ 6.1 6.4 4.0 4.2 ‘Geronimo’ 5.5 6.3 4.2 4.0 ‘Ascot’ 5.6 5.8 4.4 4.3 ‘Midnight’ 5.7 6.4 2.7 3.2 ‘Buckingham’ 6.9 6.9 4.6 4.7 ‘TX 51-90’ 7.6 7.5 7.3 7.1 ‘TX 39-88’ 8.6 8.5 5.9 5.7 ‘TX 49-90’ 9.7 9.7 8.2 8.0 ‘Kelly’ 6.3 6.1 4.4 4.3 lsd (p = 0.05) 1.679 1.738 1.875 1.621 Lower Lower Florets Florets Glume Glume Spikelet Spikelet Length Length Variety 1^(st) Whorl 3^(rd) Whorl 1^(st) Whorl 3^(rd) Whorl ‘HB 130’ 6.3 6.4 3.0 3.0 ‘Thermal Blue’ 8.6 7.0 3.1 3.2 ‘Dura Blue’ 4.6 5.0 3.7 3.6 ‘Reveille’ 4.0 4.9 2.9 3.3 ‘Geronimo’ 5.2 6.0 2.7 3.0 ‘Ascot’ 3.8 4.3 2.9 2.9 ‘Midnight’ 4.3 5.8 2.7 2.6 ‘Buckingham’ 6.7 7.1 3.1 3.0 ‘TX 51-90’ 8.8 8.5 3.6 3.3 ‘TX 39-88’ 8.0 7.9 3.6 3.6 ‘TX 49-90’ 8.7 8.6 5.4 5.0 ‘Kelly’ 4.3 4.9 2.8 2.9 lsd (p = 0.05) 1.69 1.81 0.853 0.682 Upper Upper Glume Glume Length Length 1^(st) Whorl 3^(rd) Whorl Plant Height ‘HB 130’ 3.0 3.2 54.6 ‘Thermal Blue’ 3.5 3.3 58.3 ‘Dura Blue’ 3.6 3.7 38.8 ‘Reveille’ 3.3 3.5 51.6 ‘Geronimo’ 2.9 3.1 56.9 ‘Ascot’ 3.1 3.1 38.2 ‘Midnight’ 3.1 3.2 29.7 ‘Buckingham’ 3.4 3.4 48.2 ‘TX 51-90’ 4.2 4.2 48.1 ‘TX 39-88’ 4.0 4.2 60.4 ‘TX 49-90’ 6.0 5.4 56.2 ‘Kelly’ 3.0 3.0 38.0 lsd (p = 0.05) 0.951 0.803 8.807

As demonstrated by the tabulated results in Table 11, the spikelet length in both the 1^(st) and 3^(rd) whorl of the panicle branch of ‘HB 130’ is less than in Texas bluegrass but greater than Reveille, Geronimo, Ascot and Midnight.

For the vegetative leaf, the number of hairs is average for the leaf sheath margin, above average for the dorsal side of the leaf blade, above average for the upper margin of the ligule, and below average for the collar margin compared to other varieties. ‘HB 130’ differs from the Kentucky bluegrass varieties in regard to such morphological characteristics as seed length and width, culm length, and hairs on the collar margins of the vegetative leaf, on the upper surface of the vegetative leaf, on the ligule of the flag leaf, and aggressive growth. As shown in Table 12, ‘HB 130’ has a shorter flag leaf ligule, more hairs on the flag leaf ligule and has a thinner flag leaf than Reveille hybrid Kentucky bluegrass and Texas bluegrass.

TABLE 12 Ligule thickness, ligule hairs and flag leaf thickness of ‘HB 130’ and other hybrid bluegrasses, parental varieties and germplasms planted at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon. (Measurements in millimeters). Cultivar Ligule Length Ligule Hairs Thickness ‘HB 130’ 1.7 4.5 0.015 ‘Thermal Blue’ 1.3 5.8 0.015 ‘Dura Blue’ 2.3 3.2 0.018 ‘Reveille’ 2.3 0.9 0.021 ‘Ascot’ 2.0 5.6 0.017 ‘Geronimo’ 1.7 7.1 0.016 ‘Tx 51-90’ 1.7 0.1 0.026 ‘Tx 39-88’ 2.7 0.1 0.020 ‘Tx 49-90’ 2.0 0.5 0.023 lsd (0.05) 0.66 1.9 0.0033

As demonstrated by the tabulated results in Table 13, ‘HB 130’ has fewer and shorter leaf hairs than Kentucky bluegrasses and most other hybrid bluegrasses.

TABLE 13 Relative hair lengths on leaves from plants allowed to over winter in the field and placed into a controlled greenhouse environment (60-75 F.) in late winter and allowed to grow undisturbed at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon. (Rating Scale: 9 = longest hairs, 1 = no hairs). Blade- Ligule- Blades- Blades- Collar Sheath- Upper Cultivar Dorsal Upper Margin Margin Margin ‘HB 130’ 0 0.9 1.3 1.3 2.1 ‘Thermal Blue’ 0 0.9 3.4 4.4 4.6 ‘Dura Blue’ 0 0.8 4.3 4.1 5.8 ‘Reveille’ 0 0.9 2.8 4.1 5.8 ‘Geronimo 0 1.7 1.0 1.6 2.1 (Kbg)’ ‘Ascot (Kbg)’ 0 2.5 5.1 5.8 6.6 ‘Tx 51-90 (Tbg)’ 0 0.9 3.5 4.1 3.4 ‘Tx 39-88 (Tbg)’ 0 1.0 3.3 2.9 3.8 ‘Tx 49-90 (Tbg)’ 0 1.0 0.8 1.4 0.2 lsd (0.05) 0 1.4 2.86 3.65 4.57

Since environmental conditions such as soil and climate may influence morphological characteristics to some extent, comparisons of ‘HB 130’ were made with Kentucky bluegrass varieties under like conditions and the comparisons are set forth in Tables 14–18.

TABLE 14 Heading dates (Julian dates) in years 1 and 2 for field planting of hybrid bluegrasses and parent species. Cultivar Year 1 Year 2 ‘HB 130’ 105 115 ‘Thermal blue’ 108 115 ‘Dura Blue’ 114 105 ‘Geronimo’ 105 114 ‘Ascot’ 110 80 ‘Tx 19-88’ 120 94 ‘Tx 46-90’ 113 94 ‘Tx 4-88’ 103 94 lsd (p = 0.05) 5.55 4.3

TABLE 15 Anthesis dates in years 1 and 2 for field planting of hybrid bluegrasses and parent species at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon. Cultivar Anthesis Date ‘HB 130’ 131 ‘Thermal Blue’ 131 ‘Dura Blue’ 126 ‘Geronimo’ 130 ‘Ascot’ 127 ‘Tx 46-90’ 125 ‘Tx 4-88’ 122 lsd (p = 0.05) 6.0

TABLE 16 Heading and anthesis dates for field planting of hybrid bluegrasses and parent species at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon. Cultivar Heading Date Anthesis Date ‘HB 130’ 122 141 ‘Thermal Blue’ 120 138 ‘Dura Blue’ 123 145 ‘Reveille’ 116 141 ‘Geronimo’ 122 140 ‘Ascot’ 124 141 ‘Tx 51-90’ 116 140 ‘Tx 39-88’ 121 — ‘Tx 49-90’ 119 140 lsd (p = 0.05) 5.1 4.9

TABLE 17 Comparison of flowering times of plants allowed to over winter in the field and placed into a controlled greenhouse environment (60-75° F.) in late winter and allowed to grow undisturbed during winter at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon. Cultivar Julian date ‘HB 130’ 87.1 ‘Thermal Blue’ 93.2 ‘Dura Blue’ 87.6 ‘Reveille’ 89.9 ‘Geronimo’ 85.5 ‘Ascot’ 87.6 ‘Kelly’ 91.8 ‘Tx 51-90’ 80.8 ‘Tx 39-88’ 84.2 ‘Tx 49-90’ 86.7 lsd (p = 0.05) 5.8

TABLE 18 Comparison of growth habit for ‘HB 130’ to various Kentucky and Texas bluegrass cultivars planted at Gervais, Oregon, after one and two years. (Rating Scale: 1 = prostrate, 2 = semi-erect, and 3 = erect). Year Year Cultivar 1 2 ‘HB-130’ 2.4 2.3 ‘Thermal Blue’ 2.1 2.3 ‘Dura Blue’ 1.8 2.0 ‘Abbey’ 1.0 2.4 ‘Ascot’ 2.4 1.7 ‘Geronimo’ 1.9 2.3 ‘TX 19-88’ 3.0 3.0 ‘TX 46-90’ 3.0 3.0 ‘TX 4-88’ 3.0 3.0 lsd (p = 0.05) 0.34 0.42

The seed of ‘HB 130’ averages 3.4 mm in length, and 0.83 mm in width.

Comparisons of ‘HB 130’ with other Kentucky, Texas and hybrid bluegrass varieties in terms of seed length, seed width and 1000 seed weight are shown in Tables 19 and 20 as follows:

TABLE 19 Seed characteristics from panicles of ‘HB 130’ and comparitor varieties and germplasm. 1000 Seed Cultivar Seed Length (mm) Seed Width (mm) Weight (mg) ‘HB 130’ 3.40 0.83 547 ‘Thermal 3.20 0.80 540 Blue’ ‘Dura Blue’ 2.62 0.91 660 ‘Ascot’ 3.23 0.80 543 ‘Geronimo’ 3.03 0.81 517 ‘Tx 46-90’ 3.15 0.77 nd ‘Tx 19-88’ 2.20 0.69 nd ‘Tx 4-88’ 2.30 0.59 nd lsd (p = 0.05) 1.09 0.80 46.8

TABLE 20 Thousand seed weight count of hybrid bluegrass grown in eastern Washington Cultivar 1000 Count Seed Weight (mg) ‘HB 130’ 417 ‘Thermal 388 Blue’ ‘Dura Blue’ 513 lsd (p = 0.05) 11

‘HB 130’ has demonstrated relatively rapid germination and emergence compared to other hybrids including ‘HB 129’ and ‘Reveille’ in both fall and spring sowings and a medium turf height 53 days after planting.

TABLE 21 Germination of ‘HB 130’, hybrid bluegrasses and Kentucky bluegrasses planted in turfgrass plots at Cleveland, Texas observed after 1 or 2 weeks. (Rating Scale: 0 = no germination visible; 9 = all seeds germinated and visible). 15 days after 8 days after Cultivar seeding seeding ‘HB 130’ 3.0 2.0 ‘Thermal Blue’ 2.7 1.7 ‘Ascot’ 2.7 2.7 ‘Abbey’ 1.7 2.0 ‘Coventry’ 1.7 1.3 ‘Reveille’ 0.0 0.0 lsd (0.05) 0.90 0.74

TABLE 22 Turf height 53 days after turf planting at The Scotts Company facility at Gervais, Oregon. (Measured in millimeters). Turf Height Cultivar (mm) ‘HB 130’ 58.3 ‘Thermal 80.8 Blue’ ‘Dura Blue’ 41.8 ‘Ascot’ 44.6 ‘Fairfax’ 85.7 ‘Abbey’ 64.1 lsd (0.05) 19.71

‘HB 130’ has shown greatly reduced seed cotton compared to ‘Reveille’ and Texas bluegrasses ‘Tx 39-88’ and ‘Tx 49-90’. It is thought that the presence of the cotton on seed has led to poor seed recovery and handling with Texas bluegrasses, and the limits the availability of ‘Reveille’ predominantly to a vegetative reproduction from rhizome and tiller materials.

TABLE 23 Cotton on lemma. Comparison of Lemma length eyepiece (mm), Lemma length visual %, and cotton length from base (mm) and ranking of visual cotton density for ‘HB 130’ and various cultivars. Lemma Cotton Visual cotton length length Cotton density (Eyepiece, (% of lem- length (5 = Most. Cultivar in mm) ma length) (in mm) 1 = None) ‘HB 130’ 3.8 74.6 3.0 2.0 ‘Thermal 3.8 80.0 3.2 2.2 Blue’ ‘Dura Blue’ 4.8 108.3 4.8 3.8 ‘Reveille’ 4.2 95.4 4.0 3.0 ‘Ascot’ 3.7 61.3 2.4 2.3 ‘Geronimo’ 3.8 89.6 3.3 2.3 ‘Tx 51-90’ 5.8 132.3 8.4 3.4 ‘Tx 39-88’ 6.2 133.1 7.7 3.7 ‘Tx 49-90’ 6.2 120.8 7.7 3.7 lsd (p = 0.05) 0.47 26.3 1.56 0.29

TABLE 24 Visual rating of cotton in intact panicles for ‘HB 130’ and various bluegrass cultivars at Gervais, Oregon. (Rating Scale: 1 = none; 5 = most). Cultivar Intact Panicle Cotton Rating ‘HB 130’ 2.3 ‘Thermal Blue’ 2.0 ‘Dura Blue’ 3.6 ‘Geronimo’ 2.1 ‘Ascot’ 2.4 ‘Tx 39-88’ 3.8 ‘Tx 49-90’ 4.3 Isd (p = 0.05) 0.74

‘HB 130’ has performed well throughout the U.S. as exhibited by good turf quality ratings under standard management inputs in comparison with other Kentucky bluegrass varieties and other Texas×Kentucky bluegrass hybrids. In addition, it has a medium green color with good turf density that can be maintained throughout the growing season providing a rapid development of sod strength, and a medium to high seed yielding capacity.

TABLE 25 Comparison of turf color readings of ‘HB 130’, various Kentucky blue- grass varieties, and hybrid bluegrass varieties grown in San Diego County, California from winter to winter taken at four different dates during a year. (Rating Scale: 9 = Dark, 1 = Straw Brown). Cultivar March May September January ‘HB 130’ 7.0 6.0 5.7 4.3 ‘Thermal Blue’ 6.3 5.0 5.0 4.3 ‘Dura Blue’ 7.7 8.0 6.2 5.7 ‘Abbey’ 6.7 5.3 5.7 5.3 ‘Midnight’ 6.7 7.0 7.8 6.0 ‘Apollo’ 6.0 7.0 6.5 5.0 lsd (p = 0.05) 0.67 0.98 0.76 1.2

TABLE 26 Winter color ratings at The Scotts Company, Gervais, Oregon. (Rating Scale: 9 = Best; 1 = Worst). Cultivar Winter Color ‘HB 130’ 4.3 ‘Thermal Blue’ 4.0 ‘Dura Blue’ 7.7 ‘Avalanche’ 6.3 ‘Envicta’ 5.0 lsd (p = 0.05) 1.1

TABLE 27 Leaf characteristics of ‘HB 130’ and various Kentucky and Texas blue- grass cultivars. In the nursery planted at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon. (Measured in centimeters). Flag Leaf Flag Leaf Vegetative leaf Cultivar Blade length Sheath length blade length ‘HB 130’ 4.2 13.4 7.9 ‘Thermal Blue’ 4.7 12.9 7.0 ‘DuraBlue’ 4.5 11.5 7.9 ‘Geronimo’ 4.4 13.0 8.0 ‘Ascot’ 3.7 9.5 6.9 ‘Tx 19-88’ 11.3 18.5 14.2 ‘Tx 46-90’ 11.6 16.9 15.4 lsd (0.05) 2.79 2.15 2.68

TABLE 28 Comparison flag and vegetative leaf characteristics for ‘HB 130’ to various Kentucky and Texas bluegrass cultivars in the nursery planted at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon. (Measurements in centimeters). Flag Blade Flag Sheath Vegetative leaf blade Cultivar length length length ‘HB 130’ 6.5 15.3 9.0 ‘Thermal Blue’ 7.2 15.5 9.4 ‘Dura Blue’ 6.4 13.7 9.4 ‘Reveille’ 7.6 16.4 9.2 ‘Geronimo’ 6.7 15.3 9.1 ‘Ascot’ 5.9 13.2 9.6 ‘Tx 39-88’ 8.7 15.8 9. ‘Tx 49-90’ 9.7 15.6 12.3 lsd (0.05) 2.72 2.78 3.29

TABLE 29 Flag leaf length, flag leaf width and vegetative leaf length of plants allowed to over winter in the field and placed into a controlled greenhouse environment (60-75 F.) in late winter and allowed to grow undisturbed at The Scotts Company facility, Gervais, Oregon. (Measured in centimeters). Flag Leaf Flag Leaf Vegetative Leaf Cultivar Length Width Length ‘HB 130’ 5.0 1.4 7.8 ‘Thermal Blue’ 4.6 1.4 8.1 ‘Dura Blue’ 4.6 1.3 8.7 ‘Reveille’ 6.7 1.3 11.7 ‘Geronimo’ 4.4 1.4 7.4 ‘Ascot’ 3.9 1.2 8.0 ‘Kelly’ 4.0 1.5 7.9 ‘Tx 51-90’ 8.4 1.8 9.8 ‘Tx 39-88’ 9.2 2.0 8.7 ‘TX 49-90’ 7.3 1.7 10.6 lsd (p = 0.05) 1.71 0.30 2.24

‘HB 130’ resists disease in humid regions better than traditional Kentucky bluegrasses. ‘HB 130’ is relatively resistance to brown patch and Pythium blight. Brown patch, or Rhizoctonia blight, is a common summertime disease of cool-season turfgrasses, and is caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. Pythium blight, also called cottony blight or grease spot, is a fungal disease of turfgrasses.

‘HB 130’ shows moderate resistance to rust, dollarspot, and brown blight as demonstrated by the results tabulated in Tables 30 and 31.

TABLE 30 Dollarspot and leaf rust susceptibility of ‘HB 130’, Kentucky bluegrass varieties, and hybrid bluegrass varieties grown in San Diego County, California. Data is percent of plot area infected. Cultivar Dollarspot Rust ‘HB 130’ 16.7 13.3 ‘Thermal Blue’ 21.7 16.7 ‘Dura Blue’ 0.3 2.0 ‘Abbey’ 16.7 13.3 ‘Midnight’ 0.3 26.7 ‘Apollo’ 0.0 23.3 lsd(p = 0.05) 10.6 10.3

TABLE 31 Brown blight susceptibility of ‘HB 130’, various Kentucky bluegrass varieties, and hybrid bluegrass varieties grown in Gervais, Oregon. Percent of Plot Area Infected Brown Cultivar Blight ‘HB 130’ 61.7 ‘Thermal Blue’ 66.7 ‘Dura Blue’ 5.7 ‘Envicta’ 58.3 ‘Avalanche’ 25.0 lsd (p = 0.05) 22.7

-   Color description: The upper and lower leaf blade surface colors of     ‘HB-130’ were determined by comparing several actively growing     leaves on at a time, in full sun, with color chips from the Munsell     Book of Color as a reference. On this basis, the color of the upper     and lower leaf blade surfaces were determined to be nearly     comparable; the upper leaf blade surfaces ranged from 5GY 5/6 to 5/8     and the lower leaf blade surfaces ranged from 5GY 4/6 to 5/6.     Additionally, color designations were determined from tillers     harvested from the plant nursery using the Munsell Book of Color,     Volume I of a two volume set, as follows: 10 YR 7/4 to 8/4 for     ‘HB-130’ seed; 10 YR 7/4 to 7/6 for ‘HB-130’ panicle; and 10 YR 8/4     for ‘HB-130’ leaf ligule. 

1. A new and distinct hybrid variety of Texas bluegrass×Kentucky bluegrass plant, as herein illustrated and described and characterized by aggressive rhizome growth, rapid establishment, a medium green, dense turf, a reduced level of cotton on the seed, and a medium to high seed yield potential. 